§ 8. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to place new orders for aircraft with British Aerospace during the next 12 months.
§ Mr. PattieYes. The timing and nature of orders will, however, depend on our current consideration of our spending plans.
§ Mr. WintertonI had hoped that my hon. Friend would be a little more forthcoming. Does he agree that British Aerospace makes a major contribution to Britain's defence and employs tens of thousands of people? If we purchase aircraft from British Aerospace, will it not set a fine example for exports? The industry has a record that is almost second to none in exporting its goods. Will my hon. Friend assure the work force that orders will be forthcoming to maintain not only the production line, but research and development at British Aerospace?
§ Mr. PattieI am glad to endorse my hon. Friend's support and praise for British Aerospace. He will know that at the Woodford and Chadderton division the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance conversion programme is continuing, together with the airborne early-warning programme, and a good amount of civil work is being done. Like my hon. Friend, I hope that the signs of interest being shown by foreign buyers in those aircraft will prove fruitful. In that way we can sell more of those aircraft and possibly open the production line. That would be a highly satisfactory state of affairs.